BRITAIN’S most wanted man has appeared in court over the murder of a Staffordshire businessman - after more than a year on the run.

Fugitive John Anslow, 32, of Tipton, was dramatically captured last Wednesday in Cyprus and was arrested once he had been flown back to Heathrow Airport in the early hours of Saturday.

Anslow had been sprung from a security van outside Redditch’s Hewell Prison in January 2012. He was on his way to a preliminary hearing at Stafford Crown Court over the murder of Chasetown businessman Richard Deakin.

He had evaded capture for 439 days and detectives had put up a £10,000 reward for his capture.

But last week he was snared on suspicion of immigration offences and later deported by Turkish Cypriot authorities.

Skip hire boss Mr Deakin was found dead at his Staffordshire home in July 2010 and his murder was later featured on the TV series Crimewatch.

The prison van from which John Anslow escaped in January 2012

Represented by barrister Gary Bell, Anslow appeared via a video link at Stafford Crown Court yesterday afternoon charged with murder and over his failure to face court on January 23 last year.

Sitting in a room at a high-security jail, he spoke to confirm his name and wrote down details of future court proceedings he will face as they were spelt out to him by Recorder of Stafford, Judge Simon Tonking.

Previously shaven-headed, Anslow now sported longer black hair with a straight fringe at the front. He wore a black jacket over a black and white top, and grey trousers.

He replied ‘Yes, Your Honour’ several times as the Judge explained the trial details to him, and appeared relaxed at times, sitting back with his right leg resting on his left.

Anslow, who has a tattoo on his right hand, also bit his fingernails, scratched his face and chewed a pen as the short hearing progressed.

The Judge told Anslow, who did not enter a plea, that a provisional date of October 2 had been set for his trial at Birmingham Crown Court.